Haris Rauf hilariously proved his fitness for the 2023 World Cup. Photo: Screenshot
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Haris Rauf hilariously proved his fitness for the 2023 World Cup
- The right-arm pacer showed his dance move to prove his fitness
- Rauf was dealing with a side issue during Asia Cup
The Pakistan cricket team was issued visas for India two days before the players were scheduled to leave the country to participate in the 2023 World Cup. Earlier in the day, there were reports that the players were waiting for the clearance. Just a few hours after the reports surfaced, it was confirmed that the visas had been issued.
Two days before landing in India, Haris Rauf interacted with the media in a pre-departure press conference and spoke on a range of topics. The right-arm pacer responded to the million-dollar question over his fitness and hilariously showed off his dance skills to prove that he is fit.
Rauf was down with a side issue during the Asia Cup and was ruled out after Pakistan’s second game against India. He got fit in time for the World Cup and was named in the 15-member squad, announced last week.
While Rauf proved his fitness before the team selection, that wasn’t the case with Naseem Shah. The young pacer suffered a shoulder injury during the Asia Cup and was subsequently ruled out of the World Cup. Pakistan called up Hasan Ali in Naseem’s place.
Babar Azam-led Pakistan is expected to land in India on Wednesday (September 27). They will take part in two warm-up matches against New Zealand and Australia on September 29 and October 3, respectively. Both matches will be played in Hyderabad.
Pakistan will kick off their World Cup campaign against Netherlands on October 6. They will face Sri Lanka (October 10), India (October 14), Australia (October 20), Afghanistan (October 23), South Africa (October 27), Bangladesh (October 31), New Zealand (November 4) and England (November 11) next, respectively.
Pakistan squad for 2023 World Cup: Babar Azam (C), Shadab Khan (VC), Muhammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Saud Shakeel, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Wasim Junior, Agha Salman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Osama Mir
